Article
U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Four ICC Judges over War Crimes Probes
Summary
On June 5, 2025, the U.S. sanctioned four International Criminal Court judges for authorising probes into U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Israeli leaders in Gaza.
On June 5, 2025, the administration of President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on four International Criminal Court members for supposedly taking "illegitimate and baseless actions" against the United States and its allies. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the ICC's investigations are a threat to U.S. national security and sovereignty.
Targeted judges are Solomy Balungi Bossa (Uganda), Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza (Peru), Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou (Benin) and Beti Hohler (Slovenia). Bossa and Ibanez Carranza were singled out for authorizing a 2020 investigation into alleged war crimes by US soldiers and CIA agents in Afghanistan. Alapini Gansou and Hohler were targeted for participation in proceedings that led to arrest warrants against Israeli leaders for conduct in Gaza.
Under the sanctions, everything U.S.-based belonging to the four judges will be frozen and U.S. people and entities will be barred from making funds, goods or services available to them. In response, the Court condemned the sanctions as an attempt to undermine its independence, warning that sanctions on judges "encourage only those who believe they can act with impunity.".
This is the most recent in a series of U.S. actions against ICC officials since January 20, 2025, after an executive threat to sanction anyone involved in ICC investigations of U.S. or allied forces. The actions have been criticized by those who claim they may impede accountability for suspected international crimes.